This is Philips new ad for their latest TV range. Apart from being an amazing piece of SFX cinematography, this ad is not for TV or cinema release. It’s purely for viral marketing.
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Month: April 2009
Left Field: Headline: Labor ready for Costello coup, secret research shows.
I clearly remember prior to the 2007 Federal Election calling into ABC 702's Breakfast Show with Adam Spencer. He had a professor of politics on who was rabbiting on about the Howard v Rudd situation. The conversation moved to alternatives to Howard as the polling was running about 99 to 1 at that point.
My question, which I thought was obvious, 'Do you think that Labor would be running internal polls on Costello?'
The expert was taken aback and responded in the typical manner of a cornered dog – and attacked. 'Of course not' was his very abrupt reply. So abrupt Adam thought it would be best ask a follow up question based on mine. This got the expert very upset and he changed the subject in an effort to deflect his obvious unexpertedness.
My point is; an expert need not be a know-it-all. In fact a relationship will be built if you are able to listen to your audiences' point of view and reflect upon it, rather than rejecting it outright or trying to belittle them.
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My mate wanted by the FBI
George Betsis, in bloke world, is my mate. He is the guy who taught me everything there is to know about how to create an ad. He was my mentor and has long been an inspiration.
I last chatted with him at the TropFest 09 Red Carpet where he was a guest.
It's a strange experience to be browsing a news site and see a mate in trouble. In the surf or on the road you do all you physically can. But how do you help online?
GB, if you read this, all the love in the world from my family to yours, brother.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_to_sell_your_soul_on_twitter_and_whos_buying.php . Twitter is all about sharing personal experiences and thoughts to help
create personal relationships. If you start using the Magpie service
referred to in the the above link you will be DOOMED in your efforts
to build any kind of worthwhile relationships.
I think the thing that most people forget is that people are just like
you and me; and they are a wake up to being scammed and conned.
you and me; and they are a wake up to being scammed and conned.
If I truly appreciate (even love) a product or service then you can bet all the
dollars in your pocket against all the dollars in my pocket that I
won't be getting paid a Zimbabwe $ to post/tweet/say it.
dollars in your pocket against all the dollars in my pocket that I
won't be getting paid a Zimbabwe $ to post/tweet/say it.
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Personal Domains
I sure hope you have all purchased your own domain name like
craigashleyrussell.com. They will be the most valuable piece of real
estate you own in the near future. For a couple of bucks, what’s
stopping you?
Ask me if you need help getting yours.
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An open response to a comment
Craig Ashley Russell: Me in the SMH – 11th Paragraph.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I wish there was a magic button to getting a job, I really do. I wish there weren't a thousand clichés and tips.
There's a book written in the 70's by Richard Nelson Bolles called 'What Colour is Your Parachute?' and has just been updated for for the current economic crisis. It's a practical manual for job hunters. It is an interesting read if no other reason Bolles explains the way job seekers go about getting a job and the way employees go about filling vacancies – in short, the they are completely opposite. The job seeker thinks a CV is the best way, the reality is a employer will use a CV as the last way to fill a position. Firstly they will promote from within, second using proof of experience, third by referral, fourth via a head-hunter (ahhhhhh – but that's another story) fifth using an add and sixth from a pile of CVs they have received.
My interpretation of this is to get a foot in the door and work your way up. Use a portfolio of past work if you have.
I think where all these books and websites and tips fall down is in their generality. I don't know what industry you're trying to get into so maybe a portfolio is not relevant. I would suggest you keep blogging, use LinkedIn and check out this blog.
Apart from that all I can do is wish you all the best in your search and remember these three things (which may make me sound arrogant but wtf):
1) NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!
2) BE YOURSELF, PRETENDING FOR TOO LONG IS TOO HARD.
3) STAY FOCUSSED ON YOUR GOALS AND YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. And if you need help with goal setting (I sure did) read Goals by Brian Tracey available from audible.com as a talking book via download right to your iPod.
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Hello, welcome and thank you!
Hi, yes I'm talking to you. I just noticed that the number of people reading this blog has jumped by 50% in the past week. So I thought I should say hello, welcome and thank you. I hope you enjoy or at least find interesting the posts.
I would however encourage you to comment, add your thoughts to my thoughts and start discussions on any of the posts you read here. If your already here you are amongst like minded people. So comment away.
Don't wait. Start now… just click the 'comment' link below….
Can Alex Bogusky Help Microsoft Beat Apple?
I need not comment as enough kilobytes and pixels have been created about this story. In essence, Microsoft engaged Alex Bogusky of Crispin Porter + Bogusky to save them from the guys who have just 5% of the market.
The top link is to the May 08 story in Fast Company. The second link is to one of the hundreds of posts about why the new Microsoft campaign is rubbish.
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Who are you, really?
I spend a lot of time at LinkedIn and with Soloists, SOHOs and SME operators. One of the things that always intrigues me is the lack of thinking that goes into their professional title. 'Director' for example says nothing about what you do except that you have have a $2 shelf company. And for anyone who hasn't got an ACN, just an ABN then you are lying when you have 'Director' on your card unless you are a film or TV director. But I digress.
A compelling professional title is an essential part of triggering a positive gut reaction from a prospective client/customer/employee/supplier/associate etc
Look through LinkedIn and it won't take long before you see the soloists who are simply 'owner' or 'designer'. That leaves me cold and with no real interest to find out more.
But there is a flip side when soloists go to the other extreme. I think that a designer, working away by themselves is having a giant wank when they use a title like 'Chief Creative Officer'. This is a real title and reserved for those who really do all the tasks and have all the responsibilities associated with the title like Lee Clow of TBWA/Chiat/Day, who has now seen the title devalue to a point where he is now Global Director of Media Arts. How long before some soloist pinches that one?
My maybe-soon-to-be-former wife has a great title; 'Director and Chief Storyteller'. It speaks volumes in milliseconds. She runs a boutique PR consultancy, Left Field. When married together in a business card for example, or email footer, she is able to communicate a myriad of positive brand attributes.
In my careers I've had many titles including Senior Creative (which just made me sound old at 30), Associate Creative Director (which made me sound like a fill in CD) and other titles which were really just job functions and altogether unimpressive. These were when I was working for large corporations.
At Mister Big my title is 'XXL'. Get it? Everyone does and laughs. Relationship built. Memory made.
At Left Field we developed a formula for all staff titles; Job function (tells people what you do) 2 things you were good at (one semi-serious/one for fun). So Virginia Kim was Account Executive, Speed Ball Master and Phone-a-friend. Mine was Creative Director, Chief Swashbuckler and Know-of-things. At the very least we each always got comments on our cards when handing them out. Can you say the same thing? Does your card help to build relationships with prospects or just fall into the ho-hum yawn circular filing cabinet.
So think about your title. Think about your market. Think about how you can stand out from your competitors. In these tough economic times creating a laugh, making a memory and starting a relationship with a prospect is going to earn you serious kudos.
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